POSTAL workers at Crewe’s Weston Road sorting office have called on the Government to step in to avert industrial action tomorrow (Thursday).

Royal Mail management and representatives of the Communication Workers Union are currently still in talks to resolve their differences.

Crewe workers are furious that the company intends to close the local site - replacing it with a new depot in Warrington.

Royal Mail wants to move 460 posts after deciding that the Crewe site is unviable.

Workers have insisted that the transfer of jobs is unacceptable as they cannot afford transport costs.

South Cheshire branch secretary Steve Wright said today (Wednesday): “The company just seems to have this belligerant attitude and nobody wants to talk about keeping Crewe open.

“There is simply to rhyme or reason behind the plans.

“They are simply going to force hundreds of people from Crewe to go to Warrington against their wishes. There is no regard for the staff at all.

“I think the Government should be in there and leading the way on this – after all it is their company.

“Instead of that they are letting a lot of hot heads run things and all they are doing is closing mail centres and decimating the mail system.”

The CWU has called nationwide 24-hour strikes on Thursday and Friday over pay, conditions and postal reforms.

Unless talks are successful mail centre staff and drivers will strike tomorrow (Thursday). The next day it will be delivery and collection staff.

Labour’s Parliamentary candidate for Crewe David Williams said: “Nobody wants a postal strike.

“We need Royal Mail management to work with the CWU for a lasting agreement on the modernisation programme.

“This dispute is crucial to the future of the Crewe Sorting Office.

“Last year I gave my full support to the CWU when I spoke on the steps of the Municipal Buildings at their rally.

“I then called for management to negotiate with the Union on a national plan and to stop picking-off sorting centres for closure like Crewe.

“It saddens me that twelve months later I have to repeat that call.

“Management must be transparent on the modernisation proposals to enable an agreed way forward with the Union, it is the only hope for Crewe.

“I can assure Crewe and Nantwich postal workers that they have my full support and that of the local Labour Party.

“Our joint efforts saw off the threat of privatisation and we must now get an agreement on the future of Royal Mail.”